Syria, in particular, allowed iran to create pdf new groups from scratch to bolster the assad regime, while in yemen, iran strengthened its partnership with the houthis. At least four organizations play a role in irans offensive cyber operations. Irans use of cyberenabled economic warfare page 6 executive summary in 2016, the industrial computer security firm malcrawler conducted an experiment. The united states department of justice recently announced the indictment of nine iranian citizens for actions related to cyberenabled theft of research, data, and intellectual property, a constant threat to both public and private interests. Iran watchers were able to gain insight into the regimes intentions and activities in cyberspace, however, during a june news interview with a senior military official tasked with managing iran s cyber strategy, islamic revolutionary guards corps irgc brigadier general second class behrouz esbati. The national defense strategy acknowledges an increasingly complex global security environment. Building on the national security strategy and the admin. The us cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency cisa has also warned that iran has continuously improved its offensive cyber capabilities, going beyond ddos and website defacement, and. It also describes activities currently being undertaken, or planned, to counter threats from foreign adversaries.
The national defense strategy acknowledges an increasingly complex global security environment, characterized by overt challenges to the free and open international order and the reemergence of longterm, strategic competition between nations. National security strategy for 2020 and beyond james jay carafano, phd, luke coffey, nile gardiner, phd, walter lohman, ambassador terry miller, and thomas w. National security strategy ii the whole world is lifted by americas renewal and the reemergence of american leadership. Today, irans nonstate network reportedly comprises about 200,000 fighters. It sets out the principles and priorities to guide the use of american power and influence in the world. Instruments of irans national security strategy iran employs a number of different methods and mechanisms to implement its foreign policy. For an in depth look at the islamic republic of irans concepts and doctrines of warfare, see.
The us government has issued a security alert over the weekend, warning of possible acts of terrorism and cyberattacks that could be carried out by iran following the killing of a top general by. Iranian cyberattacks against saudi arabia in 2012 and 2017. Its a hot topic, but compared to north koreas nucleartipped missile program, irans destabilizing activities in the middle east, chinas muscleflexing across almost all domains of statecraft, and russias growing role as a. Conflicting sources indicate that the computer crimes law was adopted on 1 july 2009. These states are using cyber operations as a lowcost tool of statecraft, and we assess that they will work to use cyber operations to achieve strategic objectives unless they face clear repercussions for their cyber operations. Available worldwide in paperback on amazon uk, usa, ca, ger, fra, in all good book stores, and via a free pdf download. Tensions are escalating between iran, the united states, and u. With the release of this national cyber strategy, the united states now has its first fully articu. Irans network of fighters in the middle east arent. The uaes evolving national security strategy 4 arab region, allowing the free practice of all religions and increasingly integrating women into social and political leadership roles and the workforce. Russias 2015 national security strategy notes that in the struggle for influence. Whether the aim is to give russia and the world a holiday gift or to avoid notice, this practice effectively ensures that not a few russiawatchers face a. But the truth is that iran poses a challenge to vital u. The network is the cornerstone of iranian national security strategy.
Guidelines for israels national security strategy gadi. The cyber warfare threat from iran shouldnt be dismissed. The authors conclude that iraq is widely recognized as the leading threat to iran s islamic regime and afghanistan is seen as an emerging threat. Iranian officials appear determined to ensure that the regime maintains this edge and have prioritized boosting irans cyber capabilities in the wake of the nuclear deal. Support to allied regimes and groups and use of terrorism iran uses support for armed factions as an instrument of policy. Find out more about eirs range of open access books here. Aug 05, 2019 at least four organizations play a role in irans offensive cyber operations.
As is the case with most states, iran does not have a comprehensive, published cyber strategysomething which iranian military leaders have lamented. This piece will address one narrow element of the document. Much about the shamoon 2 cyberattacks appears to fit irans past behavior and emerging cyber strategy, which began to take shape after stuxnet. It was claimed that the united states of america usa and israel secret services together have a role in the planning of this. Irans strategy for advancing its own objectives clashes with americas strategy for advancing its interests, which. This ecosystem is unique, involving diverse statealigned operators with differing capabilities and affiliations. Iran s cyber military the iranian cyber army is said by some cybersecurity researchers to operate on behalf of iran s islamic revolutionary guard corps, a branch of the countrys military. This document deals with the iranian national security strategy and the tensions among its components. The european union agency for cybersecurity enisa has been working to make europe cyber secure since 2004. Even so, iran is developing just as quickly as israelif not even more quicklyand when sanctions are lifted as part of the recently signed nuclear deal, iran will have far more substantial resources to devote to cyberwarfare. Iran and cyber power center for strategic and international studies. The cyber threat from iran after the death of soleimani. Guidelines for israels national security strategy the. With the proliferation of information and communication technologies icts, cyber security has.
The national cyber strategy demonstrates my commitment to strengthening americas. Jan 18, 2016 but the truth is that iran poses a challenge to vital u. Iran maintains a robust cyber program and can execute. Iran, and north korea all use cyberspace as a means to.
Unlike other worms or vi ruses, it could cause physical destruction to equipment. It is a call to action for all americans and our great companies to take the necessary steps to. Unpacking russias new national security strategy center. What would a deterrence strategy that targets irans use. The countrys state sponsored hackers are capable of launching significant attacks on critical infrastructureand they may target. In a young century, opportunities for america abound, but risks to our security remain. Iran s emergent cyber strategy much about the shamoon 2 cyberattacks appears to fit iran s past behavior and emerging cyber strategy, which began to take shape after stuxnet.
After one year, the world knows that america is prosperous, america is. The narrowly tailored extension of these authorities could help ensure that irans cyber operations do not benefit from technology transfers or foreign assistance as tehran expands its security and commercial ties, especially to countries such as russia and china. Jan 07, 2020 the us cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency cisa has also warned that iran has continuously improved its offensive cyber capabilities, going beyond ddos and website defacement, and. Cybersecurity in the 2017 national security strategy lawfare. Building on the national security strategy and the administrations progress over its first 18 months, the. Director of national intelligence recently concluded, iran is capable of causing localized, temporary disruptive. Nov 24, 2015 iran watchers were able to gain insight into the regimes intentions and activities in cyberspace, however, during a june news interview with a senior military official tasked with managing irans cyber strategy, islamic revolutionary guards corps irgc brigadier general second class behrouz esbati. This is especially true given the united states is reliant on an inadequately guarded cyberspace and should anticipate that future u. The national cyber strategy demonstrates my commitment to strengthening americas cybersecurity capabilities and securing america from cyber threats. This new national security strategy positions the united states to safeguard our national interests through strong and sustainable leadership. Can iran be deterred from engaging in offensive cyber.
The analysis outlines irans obligations under international human rights law, in particular the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information under the international covenant. The use of outsourcing allows the revolutionary guards and iran to maintain distance and deniability about iran s involvement in cyberspace warfare and cyber crime. Jan 06, 2020 the cyber warfare threat from iran shouldnt be dismissed. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Jan 20, 2020 and stealing information and presenting iran as a cyberthreat. Irans security policy in the postrevolutionary era rand. In recent years, the main shift in israels security landscape stems from irans aspirations for regional hegemony. Today, the trump administration released its national security strategy. It is still not in the top rank of cyber powers, but it is ahead of most nations in strategy and organization for cyber warfare. Gholamreza jalali, the head of irans passive defense organization, has interpreted stuxnet as the first official act of war in cyberspace. Evolving menace irans use of cyberenabled economic warfare. In the middle east, iran is competing with its neighbors, asserting an arc of.
Irans network of fighters in the middle east arent always. The purpose of this document is to present a systemic analysis of the iranian national security strategy and to map the tools which serve to realize iran s ambitions for regional hegemony. A better understanding of the history and strategic rationale of irans offensive cyber operations must inform u. This issue brief draws on new academic research, sim. As a result, tehran operates with relative freedom and impunity across. Iran s foreign and defense policies iran s national security policy is arguably the product of many overlapping and sometimes competing factors such as the ideology of iran s islamic revolution, perception of threats to the regime and to the country, and longstanding national interests. Gholamreza jalali, the head of iran s passive defense organization, has interpreted stuxnet as the first official act of war in cyberspace. The us spent the past four decades often befuddled by irans security policies. The agency works closely together with members states and other stakeholders to deliver advice and solutions as well as improving their cybersecurity capabilities. Evolving menace irans use of cyberenabled economic. Because national security is seen as inextricably tied to economic and social development, the uae government has attempted to. This paper explores how the concept of tailored deterrence could be applied to iran in the cyber sphere. What would a deterrence strategy that targets irans use of offensive cyber look like.
A prominent hacker group linked to the revolutionary guards is the ashiyane digital security team, whose members are motivated by an ideology supporting the iranian regime and the. According to estimates, around 984 iranian uranium enrichment centrifuges were damaged by stuxnet. The islamic republics cyber strategy cyber operations are a key pillar of irans strategy, which relies on asymmetric capabilities to battle its more powerful adversaries. Whether the aim is to give russia and the world a holiday gift or to avoid. The stuxnet virus was released in june 2010 and has affected irans nuclear facilities in bushehr and natanz. The authors conclude that iraq is widely recognized as the leading threat to irans islamic regime and afghanistan is seen as an emerging threat. Tensions in irans national security strategy reut institute.
The cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency cisa is sharing the following information with the cybersecurity community as a primer for assisting in the protection of our nations critical infrastructure in light of the current tensions between the islamic republic of iran and the united states and irans historic use of cyber offensive activities to retaliate against perceived harm. Feb 03, 2018 for example, in its national cyber security strategy, the us government policy is aimed at convincing a potential adversary that it will suffer unacceptable costs if it conducts an attack on the united states department of defense 2015, and the uk government, too, has spoken explicitly about the need to respond to cyber incidents with. Russia, china, iran, and north korea will pose the greatest cyber threats to the united states during the next year. Iranian cyber in america national security archive. Section iv of this monograph discusses if and how iran will pursue structural changes for its military. Irans cyber military the iranian cyber army is said by some cybersecurity researchers to operate on behalf of irans islamic revolutionary guard corps, a branch of the countrys military.